A Land More Kind than Home by Wiley Cash

Something has spoken to me in the night . . . and told me I shall die, I know not where, Saying:”‘[Death is] to lose the earth you know, for greater knowing; to leave the friends you loved, for greater loving; to find a land more kind than home, more large than earth.”

This quote from Thomas Wolfe’s You Can’t Go Home Again provides the title for Wiley Cash’s novel which takes place in a fictional rural area near Wolfe’s home in Asheville, in the western part of North Carolina, in the hills and mountains of the Blue Ridge.

From the beginning this novel feels like a Greek tragedy, narrated by three people, the young Jess, who sees something he should not; the old lady who is the conscience of the town of Marshall; and the sheriff, who has to pick up the pieces when Jess’ mother makes a terrible mistake and his father does what he has to do.

A Place More Kind than Home is Cash's first novel, beautifully written. It is not a folksy, local color tale. It’s an intensely suspenseful  narrative about people who are unable to forget the past and struggle to cope with the surprises of the present.

Comments

[col]

I bought this a month or two ago, but haven't yet read it....soon I hope!

[Pamela Thomas]

Mary, I read this after reading your review. It is well written and riveting, but I was disappointed at the very end because the characters returned to the primitive church in question. It just didn't seem right - what did you think?

[Mary Ronan Drew]

Have you had a chance to read it, Col?

Pamela, I was numb at the end of the book. I wasn't so much disappointed that the characters went back to the church as I was puzzled at the stoicism of some of them. And I think the old lady couldn't be expected to change the habits and beliefs of a lifetime. So would you recommend the book for the short list of 16 books for the Buff Orpington?

[Bluestalking]

I loved this one, too. Wiley's currently finishing up his next book (probably has to do edits and such, still) and I cannot wait for it!